number theory

The study of the whole numbers and their properties and relationships. Often,
a problem in number theory can be restated in terms of finding the solution,
or showing that there is no solution, to a Diophantine
equation. A Diophantine equation is one where the coefficients are whole
numbers, and where the solution is also constrained to be a whole number.
Sometimes, what appears to be a simple Diophantine equation can lead to
an elliptic curve.